Court told threat to kill was revenge

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A Sydney man who had been denied a passport and is accused of
terrorism planned to shoot dead ASIO or Department of Foreign
Affairs officers to send a message to the Government about its
"oppression" of Muslims, a court has heard.

Zaky Mallah, 21, allegedly planned in late 2003 to enter a
government building in central Sydney and kill two people - a
symbolic payback for two ASIO officers who had "interrogated" him,
the Supreme Court heard yesterday.

Mallah, also known as Zeky "Zak" Mallah, of Condell Park, near
Bankstown, is on trial on three terrorism-related offences, all of
which he denies.

The Crown prosecutor, Desmond Fagan, SC, told the court that in
late 2003, Mallah negotiated to sell for $3000 a videotape of his
motivations for the attack to an undercover operative posing as a
journalist. He allegedly promised a "news coup" on the attack in
return.

Mallah described it as his "final message", a "manifesto" he
hoped would change government policy, Mr Fagan said.

He expected to be killed during the attack and needed the $3000
to pay his debts beforehand, in accordance with the Muslim faith,
Mr Fagan said.

Mallah's home had been raided two months earlier and police
found a small calibre rifle and 97 rounds of ammunition. He was
fined $1400 for possessing an unlicensed firearm.

Continuing telephone intercepts led to his arrest in December
for preparing for a terrorist act, the court heard.

Mallah allegedly wrote in a note: "Australia is a beautiful
country but the Government must change. Stop harassing Muslims,
stop spying on them. Stop supporting America and its government.
The White House is where the true terrorists come from."

Mallah allegedly said the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer,
would be responsible for any deaths because he had denied him a
passport in 2002 on ASIO advice, Mr Fagan said.

"I chose to send myself to ASIO to make them taste the
consequences of their oppression in hope that they change and
reconsider their policies and their approach in dealing with
Australian citizens in the future and for that cause I choose to
die for," he allegedly wrote. "I declare my personal jihad against
the oppressors."

Mr Fagan said Mallah "stated that he intended to kill
Commonwealth officers ... It was not a joke or a hoax. It was not a
ploy to get some money out of some unsuspecting journalist. It was
a genuine intention."